Vehicle top construction



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VEHICLE TOP CONSTRUCTION SSheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1945 BY W ATTORNE March HQQQ. N, A sc E 2,4 @3,$4fi

VEHICLE TOP CONSTRUCTION Filed July 15, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 10; W; WM

March W419. N. A. SGHASSBERGER 1 VEHICLE TOP CONSTRUCTION Filed July 13, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Iii-'7- WVENTOR. jlorflmrlf "mssbary'er Patented Mar. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,463,645 v m m Q rem Norman A. Schassberger, Toledo, Ohio, assignor 'toWillys-O'Vflahd Motors;Inc.,tToledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware vv eem u t 1945 e i we? 4 Claims. (01. 296-104) hi ve t on re ate c veh cle to o s u tion and more especially to a top construction w ic ma b rea app ied. r ilbYQ e a'vehicle as; desired. l

The invention embraces the provision of a top, and closure construction for a vehicle con nosed'of several component: elements which may be q i k a d. r adil sse 1 991 t v hi l or removed therefrom without the use of tools.

The invention conte ates the provision of a p str c io f r alvehiclelhavine a pa sen er com a men a d a fr ig t pa k e comb 'w ere n e o conetrue i n f r the acka e om ar men ndep nde of the t p c os r /c mentumis? the. intense m..- pa tm 'n nd is ar an ed to be a p i d o re m v d nd n ent the tot a df ur struction for th passenger compartment.

An c of th nve on esides n the m9.-

vision ofa readily appliable top and. closure (3911- structio'n for the passenger com a llfi itoi a vehicle to which maybe secured andiassembled a S pplemental top an c osure to an. adiatent compartm nt, the n eme ta tc ein a apt ble for readywapplication orremova with ruption of the passenger compartment top and closure construction, l Another objector the invention resides, in the provision of a removable top construction ,for one compartmentof a vehicle whichfrnay supplemerited by a top and cl sure jconsjtruction for an adjacent compartment oi the vehicle ertain o ponents of the s pplemental. t p, and lo ure constructioiiheing selectively nernovable. or arranged, to be stored in aposition out-of-use as may be desired.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of a; "compound ton hstmcti n for ,vehicle s inwhich the framestru'ctureis formed of anassemblage of inter'engageable"components which may be disassembled from top; unporting Position andsi tc e upcn heve i lej qdy n'n' tions whereth'ey are readily accessible for reassembly of the top constructionwithoutthe use of: special tools.

Further objects and advantagesare within the scope of this invention, such as relate tolthe arran m tyop ra i n. and fu c icnjortncre at d e eme at th r c ur to .v ions de ail construction andto' combinations of arts; eleme i s' e .se and. o ec omie manu ac r and 'numerous'other features as will be'appaifent from a consideration of the specification and d awi o a fo m t he rwentibxt w ich ay b prete m? Jew sh:

Figure l is a perspective view of a vehicle illustratingthe compound top and closure construction' of the invention as assembled thereon in a position of-use;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the door construction for the passenger compartment removed from the vehicle and with the side and. rear closures" of the supplemental top. in rolled or open'position;

Figure 3 is a view of the windshield and instrument panel of the'vehi-cle as viewed from the operators compartment showing the means 'of storing certain components of the top frame construetion when the top'is disassembled from a position of-use;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view taken rearwardly of theop'erators 'cornpagrt'men't, showing the method and ineans of securing-the topl deck for the operators compartment to'the bow'frame constructionfl Figure 5 is a top plan view showing a portion of the package compartrnentof the vehicle illust rating the supporting inea'n'sfor" the top frame construction;

FigureG is a side elevational view of the portion of the body"illustrated in Figure 5 showing components of the top" frame construction in a stored or out-of-use'positijon;

Figure "I is a horizontalfra'gmentary sectional view takensubstantially on thelin'e 'I-1 of Figure 1; v.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view about a longitudinal plane of thevehicle taken substantially on the line'B-flof- Figure 1';

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on'the line '9-- 9- of Fig ure y ,6 v

Figure 10 is a horizontal detail sectional view taken substantially on thelinelL-l'fl of Figure1;""'

' Figure 11 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 1| l-l I of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is a, vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially 'o'nthe line l'2--l2 of Figure 1; y V Y Figure 13 is a fragmentary view illustratin means connecting frame bow and windshield construction.

While the top construction of the invention is illustrated in conjunction with a vehicle having an operator's compartment and a package 'or freight compartment, it is to be understood that it is contemplated that the invention may be utilized with any type 'of vehicle where the same may be found'to have utility.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the vehicle with which the compound top construction of my invention is associated is inclusive of a body In formed with an operators compartment H and a package or freight compartment I2 disposed at the rear of the operators compartment. The body is supported by wheels [4 connected to the body through the medium of front and rear springs l5 and i6 respectively. The vehicle is provided with a windshield frame I9 having a metal panel portion and a glazed shield portion 2|. The package or freight compartment of the vehicle is formed by means of body side panels and 26, rear quarter panels 21 and 2B and a tail gate 29, the latter being hingedly supported at the lower edge thereof and arranged to swing outwardly and downwardly to facilitate access to the package compartment.

The top construction of the invention is inclusive of two sections or components, a top construction 3! closing the operators compartment and a second or Supplemental top construction 32 enclosing the freight or package compartment. It should be here noted that the top construction 3| is assembled to the vehicle independently of the top construction 32 which may or may not be utilized as desired and is constructed to be assembled in conjunction with top construction 3| as hereinafter explained.

Arranged amidship of the body I0 is a pair of sockets 35 secured to the body side panels 25 and 26 respectively, the sockets being arranged to receive the lower extremities of struts or upright frame members 36 shown in broken lines in Figures 1 and 2. The rear corners of the body construction are provided with sockets 38 which are arranged to receive the lower extremities of upright members or struts 39. Both pairs of struts 36 and 39 are telescoped into the sockets so that they may be readily assembled or disassembled With the body construction. Each of the struts 36 and 39 are formed with curved upper portions 40 and 4| and are of tubular or hollow configuration adapted to telescope with the extremities of transversely extending frame bows 43 and 44 so as to provide in assembled relationship a pair of U-shaped frames or top supports as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Rivets 30 in struts 36 engage in notches 33 in the bows 43 and 44 to position the latter. The windshield frame l9 and forward how 43 are respectively provided with clips 34 and 31 which are connected together by a rod 42 the ends of which are configurated into hook-like portions to engage in the clips 34 and 31. The

Windshield, frame struts 36, transverse bow 43 and rod 42 provide the means for supporting the top construction 3| for the operators compartment. Struts 39 and transverse bow 44 support the rear portion of top construction 32, the forward portion being supported by bow 43 and struts36 in conjunction with the top 3|.

The top construction 3! disposed adjacent the passenger compartment of the vehicle comprises a deck or strip 41 of flexible material as for example, waterproofed canvas or the like, which is secured at its forward edge to transverse bar 22 of the windshield frame IS. The fastening means is of a character whereby the deck 47 may be quickly and easily removed. Any suitable conventional type of button fastener may be utilized for this purpose. Secured to the rear portion of the deck 4'! is a plurality of fabric loops 49 which are stitched or otherwise secured to the decking 47 as at 50. As illustrated in Figure 4, there are three loops 49 employed to secure the decking 41 to the transverse bow 43. The parallel por tions of each of the fabric loops 49 are provided with turnable fasteners 52 which is adapted to enter and cooperate with suitable grommets 53 for securing the parallel portions of loops 49 together when the loops are in embracing relation with the how 43. The decking 41 adjacent the bow 43 is formed with a depending portion 55 which is folded back upon itself as shown in Figure 8 and extends forwardly of the decking and being stitched or seamed as at 55 to a lapping strip 5"! which, with the rear portion of deck 41 is adapted to overlie the forward portion of the deck'strip 58 of'the supplemental top 32 as shown in Figure 8. A series of turnable button fasteners 60. are secured to the decking strip 41 as shown in Figure 8, the turnable portion of the fastener extending through suitable grommets 62 and 63 as illustrated in Figure 8 whereby the supplemental decking strip 58 is fixedly yet removably secured to a decking strip 41 of the top construction and the lapping strip 51.

The depending portion 55 is provided with a series of turnable fasteners 65 which are adapted to secure and support a fabric panel 66 which depends from strip 55 to form a rear closure for the operator's or passenger compartment. The turnable portions 6'! of fasteners 65 extend through grommets 68 formed in the upper edge portion of the fabric panel 65. By this means of support, the depending panel 66 is rendered read ily removable or the same may be applied by simple manipulation of the fasteners 61.

The side edge portions of the top deck strip 41 are reinforced by means of elongated fabric loops H? which are stitched to the deck strip 4'! as at H. The parallel portions 0f the fabric loops 10 as illustrated in Figure 11 are removably secured together by means of fasteners 72, the tenon portion of which extends through grommets 13 carried by one of the depending portions of the loops 18. By this means the fabric loops 10 embrace or surround bars 15 disposed at each side of the forward compartment of the vehicle, each bar being respectively connected to the windshield frame l9 and an upright strut 36 by bolts or other suitable means (not shown) of a character which permit the ready removal or reassembly of the bars 15.

As shown in Figures 2 and 7 there is provided at each side of the vehicle a vertical fabric panel 16, the front edge of which is formed in a loop 1'! embracing a vertically disposed supplemental strut 18 while the rear portion of panel 16 is formed with a loop 19 adapted to embrace or surround the vertical strut 36. Each of the bars 18 is secured to a side panel 25 of the body H], the upper extremity of the bar being connected by suitable means (not shown) to the longitudinally extending bars 15 arranged adjacent each side of the vehicle.

When the transverse fabric panel 66 is used to complete the enclosure for the operators or passenger compartment, its position is indicated in Figure 2, and by broken lines in Figure 7. When so assembled the vertical edge portions of panel 66 are provided with suitable grommets through which the fasteners 81 extend, the fasteners also projecting through grommets 83 in the strip 85 to secure the vertical lateral edges of the panel 66 in proper assembled relationship with respect to the upright struts 36.

The operators or passenger compartment H may be completely enclosed through the use of removable door construction I00 as shown in Fig-ure :1" which cooperates with the top decking 16 to enclose the forward tion, it will not be herein described in further detail.

The supplemental top '32 being inclusive of' a decking strip 58 is, arranged; to overtake the trans-verse *bow 44 and extends downwardly in a central depending portion 9| and rear spaced Panels .BZ-and 93,. A-pluralityof spaced fasteners 9 4;areca-rried by depending portion 91, theturnable portions 95 of fasteners 84. extending through suitablegrommets 91 in av rear panel 95.s as to facilitate assembly and removal of the panel 95. A series of tie straps 98am secured to side panels 92 and .93 and rear panel 95 whereby. the panel may be further secured to the spaced rear panels 21, and 28 of the body construction and to the tail gate 2 9.

A portion of loop 19 supports a plurality of spacedpfastenerstl whichare adapted tovextend through the. registering openings of a series of grommets '82 and 8.3,formedrespectively in a roll type curtain or side panel 34 and a reinforcing or lapping strip Biwhich is stitched, or otherwise secured as at 8.6 to each of the vertical fabric panels 16. Inassembled relationship, when curtains 84 are used, the forward edge portion of each side panel or curtain 84 extends between the loop 19 and the reinforcing or overlapping strip 85 whereby the turnable portion of fastener 8! extends through grommets 82 and 83 tosecure the curtains or side panels 84 in depending or body closing position as shown in Figure 1. In Figure 2 the curtain 84 is shown in stored or rolled position and is held in such position by means of straps 88.

The side panel 25 of the body construction is provided with spaced members or brackets It! and H12 which are adapted to enclose andsecure the end portions of struts 36 and 39 when the latter are placed in a stored position, that is, when the top construction is in disassembled condition. In this connection, the metal panel portion .20 secured to the windshield framel is provided with a pair of brackets i305 and- 105 whichare mounted upon bolts Hi1 and held ,in place by means of wing nuts m8. By rotating the wing nuts I03, the brackets H15 and Ills may be manipulated. to accommodate and support the transverse bows or framemembers 43, 44, and the connecting rod or link 42 in stored position when the top construction is disassembled. By this means .the transverse bows 43 and 44 may be conveniently stored in an out-of-the-way position on the vehicle as shown in Figure 3.

The main topconstruction for the passenger compartment and the supplemental top construction 32 for the freight compartment are assembled from a stored position to a position-of-use as follows:

The upright members of struts 3-5 and 38 when not in use are stored at the side of the body panel 275;, being normally held in such position by means ofbrackets I!!! and I02 as shown in Figure 6. The transverse bow frame members 43 and 44 are carried in a stored position adjacent the instrument panel bymeans of brackets 5-05 and H16 as shown in Figure 3.

In assemblingthe top construction 3| for the operators or passenger compartment'the upright struts 36= are removed from the stored. position as shown in Figure 6 and the lowerpffset; ends,-

thereof insertedin thesockets35 mounted amid;- ship of the vehicle body constructionand upon each side panel 25 and26. The vertical bars]! are then assembled intolposi-tion adjacent each side of the vehiclebody. The fabric side panels 16- are assembled witheach strut .36 and theadjacent bara'lli by slipping the looped portions 19 I and '11 respectively over the strut 3-5 and bar 1.81

toitheassernbled position as .showninFigure 7-. The. bow frame bar 43' may be removed from stored. position by manipulation of the wingednuts lfllii-to loosen the brackets i705 and I06. The

frame bow 43uis then telescoped with the upper curved portions of upright struts 36- in a manner illustrated in Figure 4'. The fabric deck 41-may then be assembled to. the upper portion of thewindshield frame I9. by means of fastenersof; conventional type .or, other suitable securing" means (not shown), the rearxedge portion of the deck Aelfipassingoverthe bow 43. The fabric loops 49=are then wrapped around thebow 43, the fasr. teners 52 passing through the grommets 53i to securev the. loops and hence thevrear portion of deck to-the bar 43.

fabric strip 119* in the form .of an elongated loop.

is wrapped around the bar 15 and secures the top decking 41 to thebars by means of fasteners 12 passing through grommets T3 in the parallel juxtaposed portionslof the fabric strip 10. The upper portions of theside panels have a double thickness portion 7.4 formed-by thestitching 8i); the portionld extending upwardly beneath thevside edges of decking 41 asshown in Figure 12. Portions 520i side panels'ifiare formed with grommets H5 through which fasteners Ill extend as shown'in Figure 1:2; the portions H.5- extending around the bars 1.5 to secure each side panel 16 to ,a bar 1:5 at each side .of the vehicle. The door construction .iilli is ofa removable character as disclosedand described. in my .copending application herein-before referred to, and such door construction may be assembled to each side of the vehicle-as shown in Figure 1.

If it is desired to completely enclose the operators compartment, the panel 66 may, be. as.- sembled into a position of use as shown in Figure 2; This assembly is accomplished by passing the fasteners 67! through grommets 68 carried by the fabric panel 65, a and passing the fasteners 8:8 through, s.uitable grommets formedin the vertical edge portions of panel 66, and through grommets in the. lap strips 85 to secure the. edge portions of panel 66 in close engagement to the upright struts 35. panel 6511s removed when the supplemental top andside rolltcurtains 84' are used, but when panel 66 is utilized it occupies the position as shown in broken lines in. Figure "7' with the fasteners M employed to hold the panelififiin position. Itwill be noted from the foregoing explanation of assemblyithat theitop construction a! and enclosure islcomplete for thevehicle operators or passenger compartment.

When-it isdesired-to-assemble-the supplemental top construction 3'2 for the protection of the:

The. bars which cons-,- nect the windshield frame 19 with struts .36 are As shown in Figure 7, the

The supplemental top decking B, is then removed into approximate assembled position with the loops 90 of the rear side panels 92 and 93 telescoped over the upright struts 39 as shown in Figure 10. The second frame bow M may be removed from stored position on the windshield construction and telescoped into the curved upper extremities of the struts 39 and beneath the supplemental decking 58 whereby the decking assumes the position adjacent the frame bow 134 as shown in Figure 9. The forward edge portion of the supplemental decking 58 of the top construction projects in overlapping relationship with the strip 51 and the rear portion of decking 41 as shown in Figure 8. The fasteners 60 extending through the grommets 62 and 63 hold the supplemental decking 58 in assembled relationship. It should be noted that the overlapping joint of deckings 41 and 58 and the strip 5'! forms, in effect, a weatherproof joint for the reason that any water which may seep in beneath the strip 41 will flow forwardly to a point adjacent the Stitching 56 and as the top construction is slightly convex in a transverse direction any Water adjacent seam 56 will flow laterally to the exterior of the closure. The roll curtains or side closures 84 may be arranged in a position of use as shown in Figures 1, '7 and wherein the fasteners 81 secure the forward edge portions of curtains 84 in position as shown in Figure 7,

and wherein the fasteners 8'5 carried by panels 92 and 93 extend through grommets 89 in the rear edge portions of curtains 84 to hold the same in assembled relationship adjacent the upright struts 39 as shown in Figure 10. By effecting a release of fasteners 8| and 81 each side curtain 84 may be rolled up into a position outof-use as shown in Figure 2.

It will therefore be obvious from the foregoing description that the supplemental top 32 may be quickly assembled to a position-of-use, or disassembled to a position out-of-use without affecting the assembly of the top construction 3| and enclosure for the operators compartment.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a vehicle body having a windshield frame and an operators compartment; a top supporting frame including a pair of vertically disposed struts removably mounted upon the body rearwardly of said windshield frame; a transverse bow connecting said struts; a flexible top covering extending between the windshield frame and the transverse bow; a plurality of fasteners carried by the windshield frame and engageable in openings in the top covering for removably securing the latter to said windshield frame; a plurality of transversely spaced loops of flexible material secured to said top covering and disposed adjacent said bow; said loops adapted to surround said bow, and fastening means associated with said loops for removably securing the latter to the bow.

2. In combination with a vehicle body having a windshield frame and an operators compartment; a top supporting frame including a pair of vertically disposed struts removably mounted upon the body rearwardly of said windshield frame; a transverse bow in telescopic connection with (said struts; a flexible top covering extend-.-

ing between the windshield frame and the transverse bow; a plurality of fasteners carried by the windshield frame and engageable in openings in the top covering for removably securing the latter to said windshield frame; a plurality of transversely spaced loops of flexible material secured to the top covering and disposed adjacent said bow; said loops adapted to surround said bow; fastening means associated with said loops for removably securing the latter to the bow; a top rail disposed at each side of said top covering and removably secured to said wind-- shield frame; means for removably securing the lateral edge portions of said top covering to said top rail; a second pair of struts connecting said top rails with the body; and side panels of flexible material connected to said top rails and I both of said pairs of struts.

3. In combination with a vehicle body having a windshield frame, an operators compartment and a rear compartment; a demountable top construction including a top supporting means; said means including a pair of vertically disposed struts removably mounted upon the body rearwardly of said windshield frame; a transverse bow telescopically connected with said struts; a flexible top covering extending between and removably secured to the windshield frame and the transverse how; a plurality of transversely spaced loops of flexible material secured to said top covering and disposed adjacent said bow; said loops being adapted to surround said bow; fastening means associated with said loops for removably securing the latter to said bow; side strips of flexible material disposed adjacent said struts and removably secured thereto, and a supplemental top frame including a second pair of struts removably secured to the body rearwardly of said first mentioned struts; a transverse bow telescopically connected with said second pair of struts; a flexible top covering supported by said second mentioned bow and removably connected to said first mentioned top covering; said second mentioned covering having depending rear portions disposed adjacent said second mentioned struts and removably secured thereto; a rear wall panel arranged to be removably connected to the depending portions of said second mentioned top covering; and a removable flexible wall adapted to be connected to said first mentioned top covering and the side strips for separating said operators and rear compartments.

4. In combination with a vehicle body having a windshield frame; a pair of spaced top supporting frames mounted upon said body rearwardly of said windshield frame; each of said top supporting frames including an upper transverse member; a top covering of flexible material removably connected to said windshield frame and extending to one of said top supporting frames; a plurality of transversely spaced loops of flexible material secured to said top covering and disposed adjacent the upper transverse member of said one top supporting frame; said loops adapted to surround said upper transverse member; fastening means associated with said loops for removably securing the latter to said upper transverse member, a lapping strip secured to said top covering; a second top covering having a portion extending between the first mentioned top covering and the lapping strip; fastening means for connecting said second mentioned top covering to said first mentioned top covering and said lapping strip; said second mentioned top cover ing overlying the upper member of the rearmost Number Name Date top supporting frame. 859,815 Kelley July 9, 1907 NORMAN A. SCHASSZBERGER. 981,771 Kretz Jan. 17, 1911 988,204 Mitchell Mar. 28, 1911 REFERENCES CITED 5 1,109,475 Sipperley Sept. 1, 1914 h 1,173,116 McGrail Feb. 22, 1916 g; f fig ggf jfif are of record 1 t 8 1,438,195 Thoma-s Dec. 12, 1922 1,439,142 Buob Dec. 19, 1922 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,679,642 Walden Aug. '1, 1928 Number Name Date 10 804,015 Mahan Aug. 26, 1884 

